Both Portlands have a well-known food scene and a working-waterfront past, and plenty of residents tired of being asked which one they mean. Beyond the name, they are very different places. Portland, Maine is a small New England port city of about 68,000 people on Casco Bay. Portland, Oregon is a Pacific Northwest city of more than 600,000 on the Willamette River.
Quick answer: Choose Portland, Maine for a compact, walkable harbor city, lobster, and a classic New England coast close by. Choose Portland, Oregon for a much bigger city with mild, wet winters and mountains, forest and river gorge nearby. Maine’s Portland is the original, and Oregon’s was named after it.
Why There Are Two Portlands
In 1845, two founders of a new settlement on the Willamette River could not agree on a name. Francis Pettygrove, who was from Portland, Maine, wanted to call it Portland. Asa Lovejoy wanted Boston. They settled it with a coin toss, and Pettygrove won two out of three. The one-cent coin from 1835 is now on display at the Oregon Historical Society Museum.
Portland, Maine vs Portland, Oregon at a Glance
- Population: Maine, about 68,000 (2020 census). Oregon, 652,503 in 2020 and an estimated 635,109 in 2025.
- Water: Maine sits on Casco Bay and the Atlantic. Oregon sits on the Willamette River, near where it meets the Columbia.
- January: Maine averages a high of 32 and a low of 17. Oregon averages 48 and 36.
- July: Maine averages a high of 78 and a low of 61. Oregon averages 82 and 59.
- Snow: Maine has a snowy winter. Oregon averages about 4 inches a year.
- Home prices: roughly $520,000 in Maine and $540,000 in Oregon (Redfin data, early 2026).
Size and Feel
Oregon’s Portland has nearly ten times as many people as Maine’s, and it feels like a big city with distinct neighborhoods. Lonely Planet describes it as laid-back, indie-spirited and as outdoorsy as they come. Maine’s Portland is Maine’s largest city, but it is still small enough to cross on foot. Lonely Planet describes it as having a classic coastal New England vibe and a maritime history. The cobblestone Old Port, the working waterfront and the ferries to the Casco Bay islands are the heart of it.
Weather
Both cities have four seasons, but winter is where they split. Maine’s winters are cold and snowy, with January highs around freezing. Oregon’s winters are mild but wet and gray, with about 19 days of measurable rain in a typical January. Summers are warm in both, though Oregon’s are drier, with about 4 rainy days in July. If you are weighing Maine’s winters, see our Maine in Winter guide and the best time to visit Maine.
Food and Drink
Both cities have elite food scenes. In Maine’s Portland the focus is seafood. The lobster roll is the dish people come for, and fresh seafood is everywhere in the Old Port. Our lobster roll guide covers where to start. Oregon’s Portland is known for its food carts, coffee and craft beer. Both have strong vegetarian options, and Maine’s has a lot of craft breweries for its size.
Outdoors
Maine’s Portland is built around the water. You can take a boat trip on Casco Bay, visit the islands, and reach rocky coast and beaches within a short drive. Day trips to Freeport and Acadia National Park are popular. Oregon’s Portland has forest parks inside the city and the mountains, river gorge and coast within a drive. For ideas in Maine’s Portland, see things to do in Portland, Maine.
Cost of Living
Home prices are in the same range. Redfin data republished in early 2026 put the middle of Portland, Maine’s market at about $520,000 and Portland, Oregon’s median sale price at about $540,000, down slightly from a year earlier. The two figures are measured a little differently, so treat them as the same ballpark. Price is not the whole picture, because taxes, heating and insurance differ. See our cost of living by city and Maine housing market pages for Maine’s side.
Which Portland Is Right for You?
For a visit: Pick Maine’s Portland if you want a walkable harbor, lobster, ferries and a short drive to lighthouses and beaches. Pick Oregon’s if you want a big city as a base for mountains, forest and river scenery.
For a move: Maine’s Portland offers a small city, a real winter and a coast on your doorstep, but a smaller job market than a big metro. If you are thinking about it, read our guide to living in Portland, Maine and our moving to Maine guide, then see what is open on JobsInMaine.com. If you are comparing Maine’s cities, see Bangor vs Portland.
Portland, Maine vs Portland, Oregon FAQ
Which Portland came first?
Maine’s. Oregon’s Portland was named after it in 1845.
How did Portland, Oregon get its name?
Two of its founders, Francis Pettygrove and Asa Lovejoy, settled the name with a coin toss. Pettygrove wanted Portland, after his hometown of Portland, Maine, and Lovejoy wanted Boston. Pettygrove won two out of three tosses.
Which Portland is bigger?
Oregon’s, by a wide margin. It had 652,503 people at the 2020 census, compared with about 68,000 in Maine’s Portland.
Which Portland has better weather?
It depends on what you dislike. Maine’s winters are colder and snowier, while Oregon’s are milder but wetter and grayer. Summers are warm in both.
Which Portland has better food?
Both are known for their food. Maine’s is stronger on lobster and fresh seafood, and Oregon’s is known for food carts, coffee and craft beer.
Sources: Portland Penny (Wikipedia), U.S. Census QuickFacts for Portland, Oregon, NOAA 1991 to 2020 climate normals, WeatherSpark, Lonely Planet, and Redfin data republished by Stacker. Figures checked October 2026.